Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of cardiac activity, resulting in the person becoming unresponsive, with no normal breathing and no signs of circulation. If immediate treatment, usually by CPR or defibrillation, is not administered, then the condition progresses to sudden death. It is worth noting that sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens due to the blood flow to the heart being blocked while sudden cardiac arrest is not due to a blockage.

Cardiac arrests happen due to a change in the heart’s electrical activity. This change results in the heart stopping to pump blood around the body. The rate and rhythm of your heartbeats are controlled by electrical signals and faulty or extra electrical signals may result in your heart beating too fast, too slow, or in an uncoordinated way. This change in heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias are harmless while others may lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is an irregular heart rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. Some heart condition that increases your risk of sudden cardiac arrest include:

• Coronary artery disease: A heart disease involving the reduction of blood flow to your heart due to a build up of plaque in the arteries of the heart
• Cardiomyopathy: A disease that affects your heart muscle and can cause the heart to have a harder time pumping blood to the rest of the body
• Heart valve disease: A disease where one or more valves in the heart does not work properly.

Other known risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest include:

• A family history of cardiovascular conditions
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity
• Diabetes

Prevention

Keeping you heart healthy may help prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Some steps you can take include:

• Eating healthy: Eating heart-healthy food such as fruit and vegetables, oily fishes, and lean meat reduces your chance of developing heart problems. 
• Staying active: When done regularly, moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity helps to strengthen your heart muscles. This improves your heart's ability to pump blood around your body.
• Kicking bad habits: Cigarette contains harmful chemicals that damages blood vessels and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Meanwhile, excessive alcohol intake leads to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and weakened heart muscles. 
• Regular health screenings: Heart screenings help to asses your risk for heart disease, detect early signs of heart problems, and monitor overall heart health.
• Maintain dental hygiene: Harmful bacteria can build up in your mouth if you neglect your oral health, leading to gum disease. Over time, these bacteria may enter the bloodstream and contribute to the formation of plaques in the arteries.

Treatment

The key to survival during a sudden cardiac arrest is prompt treatment. Any delay in administering CPR and defibrillation has been found to be detrimental to a person’s chances of surviving the cardiac arrest.

If you see someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, you can follow the following steps:

1. Dial 995 and stay on the line
2. Check if it is safe to approach the victim.
3. Get someone to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.

When Your Heart Suddenly Stops Beating: Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Have you ever wondered why some young people who have led seemingly healthy lifestyles can just collapse in the midst of a workout? It is probably due to a condition known as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Senior Cardiology Consultant Dr. Eric Chong shares more about SCA and how it can be prevented.
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Understanding Heart Health: Your Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Support

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. Located in the chest on the left, the heart pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients.

A healthy heart is essential to good health. In fact, a healthy human heart beats about 100,000 times a day, with an average adult’s heart beating about 60 to 80 times per minute.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a term that houses all conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Empowering Yourself with Knowledge

This resource provides information about heart health, including:

• Importance of Heart Health: Understand the importance of maintaining your heart health.
• Common Heart Disease: Learn about the different types of common heart diseases and their characteristics.
• Key Risk Factors: Explore various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may leave you susceptible to heart disease.
• Ways to Improve Heart Health: Learn about lifestyle factors and preventive measures to minimize your risk of heart disease.

What is Heart Health?

Heart health is the overall well-being of your cardiovascular system, which consists of your heart and blood vessels. It encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and management of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system, collectively known as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A healthy heart functions to efficiently pump blood throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your organs and tissues. It is important to maintain good heart health for your overall well-being and longevity.

Importance of Heart Health

• CVDs are a leading cause of death globally, making heart health crucial for overall health.
• Poor heart health can lead to various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

What Causes Heart Disease?

Heart disease is caused by a complex interplay of factors, including:

• Non-Modifiable Factors: Age, gender, ethnicity, family history, and inherited genetic mutations.
• Modifiable Factors:
  • Lifestyle: Diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
  • Health: Pre-existing conditions (i.e., diabetes), obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol

Symptoms of Heart

Disease Heart disease symptoms vary depending on the type of heart disease. However, some general signs and symptoms include:

• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light-headedness

Important Note: These symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions. Speak to our Specialists today for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

Common Heart Diseases in Singapore

• Coronary Artery Disease is the most common heart disease and happens due to blockages in your coronary arteries.
• Heart Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats, which can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular.
• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
• Congenital Heart Disease are heart defects present at birth due to abnormal heart development during pregnancy.
• Heart Failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened or damaged and can't pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs.

Improving Heart Health

Here are some helpful ways to improve your heart health: